Critical Edition
वासुदेव उवाच जातस्य भारते वंशे तथा कुन्त्याः सुतस्य च या वै युक्ता मतिः सेयमर्जुनेन प्रदर्शिता
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said Arjuna has shown what should be the inclination of one born in the Bharata race, specially of one who is the son of Kunti.
न मृत्योः समयं विद्म रात्रौ वा यदि वा दिवा न चापि कंचिदमरमयुद्धेनापि शुश्रुमः
M. N. Dutt: We do not know when death will overtake us, whether in the night or in the day; nor have we heard the immortality has been obtained by desisting from battle.
एतावदेव पुरुषैः कार्यं हृदयतोषणम् नयेन विधिदृष्टेन यदुपक्रमते परान्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, the duty of a man (a hero) is to attack all enemies with the help of the policy indicated in the ordinance. This always gives satisfaction to the heart.
सुनयस्यानपायस्य संयुगे परमः क्रमः संशयो जायते साम्ये साम्यं च न भवेद्द्वयोः
M. N. Dutt: If aided by good policy, and if not frustrated by destiny, an undertaking is sure to be crowned with success. If both the parties are aided by such means, and if they fight with each other, one must get the better of the other, for both cannot win or lose.
ते वयं नयमास्थाय शत्रुदेहसमीपगाः कथमन्तं न गच्छेम वृक्षस्येव नदीरयाः पररन्ध्रे पराक्रान्ताः स्वरन्ध्रावरणे स्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: When such is the case, why should we not, with the aid of good policy, go to the enemy and kill him as a river uproots a tree? if hiding our own drawbacks and taking advantage of his holes (faults), we attack the enemy, why should we not be successful?
व्यूढानीकैरनुबलैर्नोपेयाद्बलवत्तरम् इति बुद्धिमतां नीतिस्तन्ममापीह रोचते
M. N. Dutt: It is the policy of all intelligent men that one should fight with enemies who are exceedingly powerful and who stand at the head of their well-arrayed forces. It is my opinion also.
अनवद्या ह्यसंबुद्धाः प्रविष्टाः शत्रुसद्म तत् शत्रुदेहमुपाक्रम्य तं कामं प्राप्नुयामहे
M. N. Dutt: If we can accomplish our purpose by secretly entering the abode of our enemy and attacking his person, we shall never meet with obloquy.
एको ह्येव श्रियं नित्यं बिभर्ति पुरुषर्षभ अन्तरात्मेव भूतानां तत्क्षये वै बलक्षयः
M. N. Dutt: That best of men (Jarasandha) alone enjoys unfading prosperity like him who is inner-soul of every created being. But I see his destruction (before me).
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.8 After 8, K1 (marg.) ins.: *176 चतुःकिक्कु (sic) चतुर्दंष्ट्रो द्विशुक्तो दशपद्मवान् षडुन्नतैर्दश बृहत्त्रिभिर्व्याप्तोति पार्थिवः
अथ चेत्तं निहत्याजौ शेषेणाभिसमागताः प्राप्नुयाम ततः स्वर्गं ज्ञातित्राणपरायणाः
M. N. Dutt: Desirous as we are of protecting our relatives we shall either kill him, in battle or being ourselves killed by him we shall ascend to heaven.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कृष्ण कोऽयं जरासंधः किंवीर्यः किंपराक्रमः यस्त्वां स्पृष्ट्वाग्निसदृशं न दग्धः शलभो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O Krishna, who is this Jarasandha? What is his might, and what is his prowess that he has not been burnt by touching you as a insect is burnt at the touch of fire?
कृष्ण उवाच शृणु राजञ्जरासंधो यद्वीर्यो यत्पराक्रमः यथा चोपेक्षितोऽस्माभिर्बहुशः कृतविप्रियः
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said O king, hear who is Jarasandha, what is his might and prowess, and why he has been spared by us, though he repeatedly offended us.
अक्षौहिणीनां तिसृणामासीत्समरदर्पितः राजा बृहद्रथो नाम मगधाधिपतिः पतिः
M. N. Dutt: There was a king, named Brihadratha who was the heroic lord of Magadha. He was proud in battle battle and had any army of three Akshauhinis of soldiers,
रूपवान्वीर्यसंपन्नः श्रीमानतुलविक्रमः नित्यं दीक्षाकृशतनुः शतक्रतुरिवापरः
M. N. Dutt: He was handsome, mighty, wealthy and matchlessly powerful. He always bore (sacrificial) marks on his person and looked like a second Shakra (Indra).
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.13 After 13ab, S (G2 om.) ins.: *177 स्वराज्यं कारयामास मगधेषु गिरिव्रजे
तेजसा सूर्यसदृशः क्षमया पृथिवीसमः यमान्तकसमः कोपे श्रिया वैश्रवणोपमः
M. N. Dutt: He was like Surya in glory, like earth in patience, like the destroyer Yama in anger and like Vaishravana (Kubera) in wealth.
तस्याभिजनसंयुक्तैर्गुणैर्भरतसत्तम व्याप्तेयं पृथिवी सर्वा सूर्यस्येव गभस्तिभिः
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, as the rays of the sun (covers the whole earth), so the whole carth was covered by his merits which descended to him from a long line of ancestors.
स काशिराजस्य सुते यमजे भरतर्षभ उपयेमे महावीर्यो रूपद्रविणसंमते
AI Translation: He, the son of the king of Kāśi, the younger brother, O bull among Bhāratas, took as his wife the one who was approved by beauty and wealth.
तयोश्चकार समयं मिथः स पुरुषर्षभः नातिवर्तिष्य इत्येवं पत्नीभ्यां संनिधौ तदा
AI Translation: And in the presence of his two wives, the bull among men made a promise to them both: "I will not transgress."
स ताभ्यां शुशुभे राजा पत्नीभ्यां मनुजाधिप प्रियाभ्यामनुरूपाभ्यां करेणुभ्यामिव द्विपः
AI Translation: With those two wives, the king, the lord of men, shone, like an elephant with two female elephants, with his two beloved and suitable wives.
तयोर्मध्यगतश्चापि रराज वसुधाधिपः गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये मूर्तिमानिव सागरः
AI Translation: And the lord of the earth shone in between them, like the embodiment of the ocean between the Ganges and the Yamuna.
विषयेषु निमग्नस्य तस्य यौवनमत्यगात् न च वंशकरः पुत्रस्तस्याजायत कश्चन
AI Translation: While he was thus absorbed in worldly objects, his youth passed away. And no son was born to him who would have continued his family.
मङ्गलैर्बहुभिर्होमैः पुत्रकामाभिरिष्टिभिः नाससाद नृपश्रेष्ठः पुत्रं कुलविवर्धनम्
M. N. Dutt: No son was (however) born to him to perpetuate his line; though he performed many auspicious rites, Homas, and sacrifices with the desire of getting a son, yet that best of men did not get a son who could perpetuate his line.
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.21 After 21, S (G2 om.) ins.: *178 स भार्याभ्यां सह तदा निर्वेदमगमद्भृशम् राज्यं चापि परित्यज्य तपोवनमथाश्रयत् वार्यमाणः प्रकृतिभिर्नृपभक्त्या विशां पते
अथ काक्षीवतः पुत्रं गौतमस्य महात्मनः शुश्राव तपसि श्रान्तमुदारं चण्डकौशिकम्
AI Translation: Then he heard of the son of the great-souled Gautama, Kaaksheeka, who was tired of austerities, the noble Chandakaushika,
यदृच्छयागतं तं तु वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितम् पत्नीभ्यां सहितो राजा सर्वरत्नैरतोषयत्
AI Translation: The king, together with his two wives, honored him with all kinds of jewels, who had come there by chance and had taken refuge at the foot of a tree.
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.23 S (G2 om.) ins. after 23 (G3, which om. from taḥ putraṃ in 22a up to -ṣṭaś ca in line 2, ins. after atha kākṣīva in 22a; Cv comments on line 9): *179 बृहद्रथं च स ऋषिर्यथावत्प्रत्यनन्दत उपविष्टश्च तेनाथ अनुज्ञातो महात्मना तमपृच्छत्तदा विप्रः किमागमनमित्यथ पौरैरनुगतस्यैव पत्नीभ्यां सहितस्य च स उवाच मुनिं राजा भगवन्नास्ति मे सुतः अपुत्रस्य वृथा जन्म इत्याहुर्मुनिसत्तमाः तादृशस्य हि राज्येन वृद्धत्वे किं प्रयोजनम् सोऽहं तपश्चरिष्यामि पत्नीभ्यां सहितो वने नाप्रजस्य मुने कीर्तिः स्वर्गश्चैवाक्षयो भवेत् एवमुक्तस्य राज्ञा तु मुनेः कारुण्यमागतम्
तमब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिः सत्यवागृषिसत्तमः परितुष्टोऽस्मि ते राजन्वरं वरय सुव्रत
M. N. Dutt: That best of Rishis ever truthful in speech and firmly devoted to truth, thus spoke to him (the king), “O king of kings I have been much gratified. O hero of excellent vows, ask from me a boon.
ततः सभार्यः प्रणतस्तमुवाच बृहद्रथः पुत्रदर्शननैराश्याद्बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Brihadratha with his wives bowed down to the Rishi, and he spoke thus to him, his voice being choked with tears in consequences of his despair to obtain a son.
बृहद्रथ उवाच भगवन्राज्यमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थितस्य तपोवनम् किं वरेणाल्पभाग्यस्य किं राज्येनाप्रजस्य मे
M. N. Dutt: The king said O exalted one, I am about to give up my kingdom and to go into the forest to lead an ascetic life. I am unfortunate, (for not having a son), what shall I do with the kingdom or with a boon?
कृष्ण उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा मुनिर्ध्यानमगमत्क्षुभितेन्द्रियः तस्यैव चाम्रवृक्षस्य छायायां समुपाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said Having heard this the Rishi, sitting in the shade of that every mangoes tree where he was, controlled his outer senses and entered into the Yoga meditation.
तस्योपविष्टस्य मुनेरुत्सङ्गे निपपात ह अवातमशुकादष्टमेकमाम्रफलं किल
M. N. Dutt: There fell in the lap of the seated Rishi a juicy mango, untouched by the beak of parrots or other birds.
तत्प्रगृह्य मुनिश्रेष्ठो हृदयेनाभिमन्त्र्य च राज्ञे ददावप्रतिमं पुत्रसंप्राप्तिकारकम्
M. N. Dutt: That best of Rishis, taking up the fruit and mentally pronouncing some mantras over it, gave it to the king as the means of his obtaining a son.
उवाच च महाप्राज्ञस्तं राजानं महामुनिः गच्छ राजन्कृतार्थोऽसि निवर्त मनुजाधिप
M. N. Dutt: That greatly learned Rishi spoke thus to the king, “O king, go, your wish is fulfilled. O king, desist from going to the forest."
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.30 After 30, S ins. (Cv comments on line 3): *180 एष ते तनयो राजन्मा तप्सीस्त्वं तपो वने प्रजाः पालय धर्मेण एष धर्मो महीक्षिताम् यजस्व विविधैर्यज्ञैरिन्द्रं तर्पय चेन्दुना पुत्रं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य तत आश्रममाव्रज अष्टौ वरान्प्रयच्छामि तव पुत्रस्य पार्थिव ब्रह्मण्यतामजेयत्वं युद्धेषु च तथा रतिम् प्रियातिथेयतां चैव दीनानामन्ववेक्षणम् तथा बलं च सुमहल्लोके कीर्तिं च शाश्वतीम् अनुरागं प्रजानां च ददौ तस्मै स कौशिकः गच्छ राजन्कृतार्थोऽसि निवर्तस्व जनाधिप अनुज्ञातः स ऋषिणा पत्नीभ्यां सहितो नृपः पौरैरनुगतश्चापि विवेश स्वपुरं पुनः On the other hand, V1 B D ins. after 30: G3 (om. line 2) ins. after line 10 of 180*: *181 एतच्छ्रुत्वा मुनेर्वाक्यं शिरसा प्रणिपत्य च मुनेः पादौ महाप्राज्ञः स नृपः स्वगृहं गतः
यथासमयमाज्ञाय तदा स नृपसत्तमः द्वाभ्यामेकं फलं प्रादात्पत्नीभ्यां भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, recollecting his former promise, that best of kings gave that one fruit to his two wives.
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.31 After 31, S ins.: *182 मुनेश्च बहुमानेन कालस्य च विपर्ययात्
ते तदाम्रं द्विधा कृत्वा भक्षयामासतुः शुभे भावित्वादपि चार्थस्य सत्यवाक्यात्तथा मुनेः
AI Translation: Having cut that mango in two, they ate it, O auspicious one. And because of the truthfulness of the sage's words, even though the mango was not ripe,
तयोः समभवद्गर्भः फलप्राशनसंभवः ते च दृष्ट्वा नरपतिः परां मुदमवाप ह
AI Translation: From them was born a fetus, born from the consumption of fruit. And seeing them, the king was filled with great joy.
अथ काले महाप्राज्ञ यथासमयमागते प्रजायेतामुभे राजञ्शरीरशकले तदा
M. N. Dutt: O greatly wise (king), sometime after when the (proper) season came, each of the two queens brought forth two fragmentary bodies.
एकाक्षिबाहुचरणे अर्धोदरमुखस्फिजे दृष्ट्वा शरीरशकले प्रवेपाते उभे भृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Each of those two bodies had one eye, one arm, one leg, half a stomach, half a face, and half an anus. Seeing the fragmentary bodies, they (the queens) trembled much.
उद्विग्ने सह संमन्त्र्य ते भगिन्यौ तदाबले सजीवे प्राणिशकले तत्यजाते सुदुःखिते
M. N. Dutt: The helpless sisters then a great anxiety consulted with each other, and they abandoned in sorrow the fragments that had life in them.
तयोर्धात्र्यौ सुसंवीते कृत्वा ते गर्भसंप्लवे निर्गम्यान्तःपुरद्वारात्समुत्सृज्याशु जग्मतुः
M. N. Dutt: The two midwives then carefully wrapped up those still-born fragments and went out of the inner apartments (of the palace), by the back door. Throwing away the bodies, they returned in haste.
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.37 After 37, S (G4 om. lines 2-3) ins.: *183 दुकूलाभ्यां सुसंछन्ने पाण्डराभ्यामुभे तदा अज्ञाते कस्यचित्ते तु जहतुस्ते चतुष्पथे ततो विविशतुर्धात्र्यौ पुनरन्तःपुरं तदा कथयामासतुरुभे देवीभ्यां तु पृथक्पृथक्
ते चतुष्पथनिक्षिप्ते जरा नामाथ राक्षसी जग्राह मनुजव्याघ्र मांसशोणितभोजना
M. N. Dutt: O best of men, sometime after a Rakshasas woman, named, Jara who lived on flesh and blood, took up the fragments that lay on a crossing (or roads).
कर्तुकामा सुखवहे शकले सा तु राक्षसी संघट्टयामास तदा विधानबलचोदिता
M. N. Dutt: Being impelled by fate, that Rakshasas woman united the fragments to make them easier to carry.
ते समानीतमात्रे तु शकले पुरुषर्षभ एकमूर्तिकृते वीरः कुमारः समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: O best of men, as soon as the fragments were united, they formed into a heroic child of one body.
ततः सा राक्षसी राजन्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचना न शशाक समुद्वोढुं वज्रसारमयं शिशुम्
M. N. Dutt: O king, the Rakshasas woman, with her cyes wide opened in wonder, found herself unable to carry that child who had a body as hard and strong as the thunderbolt.
बालस्ताम्रतलं मुष्टिं कृत्वा चास्ये निधाय सः प्राक्रोशदतिसंरम्भात्सतोय इव तोयदः
M. N. Dutt: Closing his coppery red fists and inserting it into its mouth, that child roared as terribly as the clouds charged with rains.
तेन शब्देन संभ्रान्तः सहसान्तःपुरे जनः निर्जगाम नरव्याघ्र राज्ञा सह परंतप
M. N. Dutt: O best of men, O chastiser of foes, being much alarmed by the sound, the inmates of the palace along with the king all came out (to see what was the matter).
ते चाबले परिग्लाने पयःपूर्णपयोधरे निराशे पुत्रलाभाय सहसैवाभ्यगच्छताम्
M. N. Dutt: The helpless, disappointed and the sad queens also, with their breasts full of milk suddenly came out to get back their child.
अथ दृष्ट्वा तथाभूते राजानं चेष्टसंततिम् तं च बालं सुबलिनं चिन्तयामास राक्षसी
M. N. Dutt: Seeing them (the queens) in that condition and the king also, who was so much desirous of getting a son, and also the child which was so very strong, the Rakshasas woman reflected thus.
नार्हामि विषये राज्ञो वसन्ती पुत्रगृद्धिनः बालं पुत्रमुपादातुं मेघलेखेव भास्करम्
M. N. Dutt: “I live in the kingdom of the king who is so eager to get a son. I should not therefore, kill the child so such a virtuous and illustrious king.
Supplementary Passages:
2.16.46 After 46ab, K4 V1 B2-6 D G3 ins.: *184 बालं पुत्रमिमं हन्तुं धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः
सा कृत्वा मानुषं रूपमुवाच मनुजाधिपम् बृहद्रथ सुतस्तेऽयं मद्दत्तः प्रतिगृह्यताम्
AI Translation: Having assumed a human form, she said to the lord of men: "This is your son, O son of Bṛhadratha, given by me. Accept him."
तव पत्नीद्वये जातो द्विजातिवरशासनात् धात्रीजनपरित्यक्तो मयायं परिरक्षितः
M. N. Dutt: The Rakshasi Said O Brihadratha, this is your son. It is given to you by me. Take it. It is born in the wombs of your two wives in consequence of the boon granted to you by the Brahmana. It was abandoned by the midwives, but it was protected by me.
ततस्ते भरतश्रेष्ठ काशिराजसुते शुभे तं बालमभिपत्याशु प्रस्नवैरभिषिञ्चताम्
M. N. Dutt: Krishna said O best of the Bharata race, having obtained the child, the handsome daughters of the king of Kashi drenched it with their lacteal streams.
ततः स राजा संहृष्टः सर्वं तदुपलभ्य च अपृच्छन्नवहेमाभां राक्षसीं तामराक्षसीम्
M. N. Dutt: having ascertained everything, the king was filled with joy. He then spoke thus to the Rakshasas woman who was in the guise of a human female possessing the complexion of gold.
का त्वं कमलगर्भाभे मम पुत्रप्रदायिनी कामया ब्रूहि कल्याणि देवता प्रतिभासि मे
M. N. Dutt: “O lotus-complexioned lady, who are you that give me the child? O blessed lady, you appear to me as a goddess roaming (over the earth) at pleasure."